Flora of North America species comparison

with cormlike bases, sharply trigonous, 25–90 cm, glabrous proximally, minutely scabridulous distally.

V-shaped, 14–40 cm × 3.5–8 mm, (pubescent on adaxial side of midrib).

spikes loose, obtrulloid to obdeltoid (broadest near apex, nearly as long as wide), 20–28(–34) × (12–)15–30 mm;

rays 4–13, (1–)4–24 cm (longest ray shorter than bracts), glabrous;

bracts 3–12, ascending at 30–45°, flat, 3–25 cm × 3–7 mm;

rachilla persistent, wings 0.4–0.6 mm wide, covering 3/4 of mature achene.

30–50, proximal one reflexed, distal ones divaricate, linear-lanceoloid, ± terete, (6.5–) 8–10(–17) × 0.5–0.7 mm;

floral scales persistent, 3–6(–8), appressed, stramineous (suffused with reddish purple), 4–5-ribbed laterally, ovate-lanceolate, (4–)4.4–4.9(–5.4) × 1.3–1.5 mm;

terminal scale not spinose, apex straight, excurved mucronate, or cuspidate.

anthers 0.7–1.2 mm;

styles 1.5–2 mm;

stigmas 2–2.5 mm.

brown to brownish black, narrowly oblong, (2.2–)2.5–3 × 0.6–0.7 mm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.